HAMILTON boss Billy Reid has thanked departing chairman Ronnie MacDonald for giving him the chance to shine after the Accies supremo decided to step down last week.

Under Reid and MacDonald's guidance, Hamilton made dramatic strides forward through the leagues, culminating in a superb seventh place finish in the SPL as a number of young stars, including James McArthur, James McCarthy and Brian Easton made their names.

MacDonald will be replaced as chairman of the Lanarkshire club by Les Gray, with Allan Maitland and Allan McGonigal also assuming director roles at New Douglas Park.

And Reid admits he owes a debt of gratitude to his former boss. He said: "Ronnie will certainly not go, he will still be about the football club and will always be a fan of the club.

"In his words, not mine, he is getting on a bit! We had a fantastic relationship. I call him a friend and I hope he calls me a friend as well.

"I would just like to thank him for the opportunity he gave me at Clyde all those years ago before asking me to be the manager at Hamilton a few years back.

"We have had a lot of really good times together and it has been a great time for Hamilton Accies.

"We welcome Les Gray into the chairman's chair now. It is continuity for the club.

"Les has been at the club for a number of years and done a terrific job with the youth department.

"We know each other well and I look forward to working with him as the chairman of the club."